I really don't mind if guys wolf-whistle at Aoibhinn, it's just a bit of fun - Tubs

Kirsty Blake Knox
– 14 November 2012 04:00 PM

LATE Late Show host Ryan Tubridy believes that men should be allowed to wolf-whistle to their hearts content.

The RTE man, who is dating former Rose of Tralee Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, says: "My own opinion is that there isn't enough wolf-whistling going on. It's all a bit of fun -- not to be taken too seriously."

Ryan was reacting to Hollaback! The Irish branch of the US website encourages women to share their experiences of male attention by posting photos and videos of 'male street harassment'.

The site plans to 'out' men who subject women to unwelcome remarks, wolf-whistles or sexual insults.

"I find political correctness tedious," the 39-year-old said. "I think political correctness is one of the things that has killed passion, it has killed debate, it's killed fun."

Launch

While Ryan defended wolf-whistlers, he insists it's not how he catches the ladies' eyes.

"I wouldn't be inclined to wolf-whistle myself at all," he added. "But I think having a ban on it is completely ridiculous."

At the launch of Denim Day 2012, he also hit back at comments by radio rival Ray D'Arcy.

D'Arcy had claimed that Tubridy needed to take fewer holidays if he wanted to keep his ratings up.

"I don't think I take too many holidays," he said. "My time spent at the BBC wasn't holidays; it was work. I'm working the whole time."

But Ryan is looking forward to spending this Christmas finishing his latest book.

"It's about Ireland and Britain and popular culture. It's going to feature Irish men and women who made it big in the UK. Broadcasters, entrepreneurs -- that sort of thing.